Brandon Stokley called it "a bad dream that keeps playing over and over."
Saturday's 38-35 loss to Baltimore goes down as one of the most crushing defeats in Broncos history, as much for when it came - two games shy of the Super Bowl - as the surreal way it came about.
It brought a sudden end to a season that, at times, seemed almost destined to wind up in New Orleans.
Manning fell to 9-11 for his career in playoff games, but otherwise had a near-career year - throwing for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns, both second best in 14 healthy seasons.
But perhaps no player felt the loss as deeply as Champ Bailey, a 14-year veteran who's still never been to the Super Bowl.
He called the 2012 Broncos, "The best team that didn't do anything."